Customs, PNB, Postal joint effort seize Rs.85Mn worth Hashish at CME

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana   

In a joint operation conducted by Sri Lanka Customs, Police Narcotic Bureau and the Postal Department authorities seized 15 unclaimed parcels containing Rs.85 million worth Hashish at the Central Mail Exchange (CME) sent through airmail.   

Officials of the Customs Narcotic Control Unit, Police Narcotic Bureau (PNB), Postal Department officials at the CME and Customs Appraisal Division officials checked 16 parcels yesterday and found narcotics in 15 of them.

   
Customs Spokesperson Seevali Arukgoda told Daily Mirror the parcels contained altogether 1.6 Kilos (1,600grams) of Marijuana Hashish along with five grams of Amphetamine tablets in the parcels.  

The parcels had been sent from the USA, UK and European countries addressed to local consignees, who had not come to clear them since June last year.   
The authorities at the CME usually open and check the parcels when the consignees do not turn up after a month, since they are received via airmail.   
Customs Senior Deputy Director of the Postal Appraisal Division Lal Silva and the team are conducting investigations.   

The contraband had been handed over to the Police Narcotic Bureau for sampling and further tests.     

• The authorities at the CME usually open and check the parcels when the consignees do not turn up after a month, since they are received via airmail